By Hank Russell
Democrats from the Nassau County Legislature bashed their Republican counterparts for voting for a bill that would allow the county to hire outside counsel to help defend against challenges to fees and surcharges imposed on residents. Legislative Democrats argued this would be a waste of money.
On July 14, the Republican majority voted to approve the outside legal contracts totaling $3.2 million. Each contract passed by a 4–3 vote, with all Republican legislators voting in favor and all Democratic legislators voting against. The firms will represent the county, which is facing legal challenges against the $270 tax map verification fee, the $300 mortgage recording surcharge and the now-defunct $45 “Driver Responsibility Fee” added to red-light camera violations.
Legislative Democrats blasted the vote, noting that these fees and surcharges have already been ruled illegal or unconstitutional.
“How many millions do Nassau families have to lose before Bruce Blakeman admits defeat?” said Legislator Seth I. Koslow (D-Merrick), who is running against Blakeman. “Courts have ruled these fees are illegal. But instead of issuing refunds, they’re doubling down with another $3 million in legal contracts. Stop wasting our money defending the indefensible.”
The legislators said the move proves the administration’s priorities are upside down, protecting political power instead of taxpayers and the money approved to be spent will go to outside law firms to defend fee structures that judges have already declared excessive, improper, or unlawful.
“Blakeman would rather pay lawyers than pay back the people he overcharged,” said Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove). “This is the kind of arrogance that’s made Nassau one of the most expensive places to live in America. Our residents are being ripped off, then forced to foot the bill for the county to fight them in court.”
The Democratic legislators also reiterated their call to refund residents who were illegally charged over the years and to immediately pass legislation filed by the Democratic caucus that would:
- Reduce the tax map verification fee from $270 to $50
- Cut the mortgage recording surcharge from $300 to $50
- Repeal the Driver Responsibility Fee and lower other TPVA processing fees from $45 to $15 for all other tickets
“This isn’t just bad policy, it’s legally indefensible and morally outrageous,” Koslow added. “If you were charged an illegal fee by this administration, you shouldn’t be dragged through the courts. You should be getting a refund.”
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to Blakeman’s office, but did not hear back as of press time.